‘We Are Family’ says President Watanabe in New Year’s message to gymnastics community

Ev’ryone can see we’re togetherAs we walk on by(Hey) and we fly just like birds of a featherI won’t tell no lie(ALL!) all of the people around us they sayCan they be that closeJust let me state for the recordWe’re giving love in a family dose

Come, sing it with me – “We are family… I got all my…”

OK, so they are the lyrics to the Sister Sledge song We Are Family, but it is also the new slogan chosen by International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) President Morinari Watanabe for the gymnastics community this year.

It follows “Innovation” in 2018.

This sentiment was part of Watanabe’s New Year’s message.

In his message, the head of the gymnastics governing body reflected on a difficult year for gymnastics, in particular the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal, and how some of the gymnasts found their voices in light of their ordeals.

He said: “We should not turn our eyes away from those gymnasts who are harassed.”

“The pain that the United States feels is not the pain of the United States alone. It is the pain of all of us in the Gymnastics family. We all should share the pain.”

He went on to add that we “all should share the happiness. That is because we are family”.

In light of the events of 2018, the recent FIG Congress on Baku, Azerbaijain approved the creation of a Gymnastics Violence Prevention Foundation.

The Japanese official also asserted that the “gymnastics family” should recognise financially challenged countries, as well as the regions who lack “technical capacities”.

As things move forward, and with the qualification process for Tokyo 2020 in full swing, Watanabe added that the FIG should organise championships to provide “value for the spectators who buy the tickets”.

He said: “What is necessary for the development of Gymnastics is not simply the enjoyment of the Gymnastics family. The important thing is to inspire those who are not interested in Gymnastics and help their interest in our disciplines grow.”